Tesco Mobile are now matching your paid top-up (amounts from €10) with the same amount in free call credit, valid for 30 days from top-up. The only catch is your paid for credit is used first, then the free credit: http://www.tescomobile.ie/index.aspx

You can't use your old SIM card in this phone, it's locked to the Tesco Mobile network. But you can move your number over to them, although if you're on Pay As You Go, you'll lose any existing call credit on your old network. So it's best to use that up first: http://www.tescomobile.ie/KeepYourNumber.aspx

I discovered this only by accident. Thought I had just used up the credit myself but when I pressed them for details they admitted "actually we removed it". Has since been noticed by some mates as well.

Might look like good value but if they're removing bits of your credit they're not!

I think you're being a bit unfair to Tesco Mobile Peter. Any extra free call credit that Tesco Mobile apply expires after 30 days, any top-ups you pay for do not expire. This is clearly stated in their terms and conditions: http://www.tescomobile.ie/terms/tcs_free_credit.aspx under point 7, and the expiry date is clearly shown in your account online. Plus all free extra credit is used before paid credit so overall it's fair. As far as I remember, they send a text message about this as well.

Any extra free call credit that Tesco Mobile apply expires after 30 days, any top-ups you pay for do not expire. This is clearly stated in their terms and conditions: http://www.tescomobile.ie/terms/tcs_free_credit.aspx under point 7, and the expiry date is clearly shown in your account online. Plus all free extra credit is used before paid credit so overall it's fair. As far as I remember, they send a text message about this as well.

Well no I'm just stating the facts - which I discovered by chance and which most people are probably unaware of.

Tesco's unique policy (of deleting people's credit) is certainly not clearly stated at all. It's a a fairly nasty thing to delete someone's credit without their knowledge. Tesco's policy should be clear in big print on their advertising and the front of literature before you buy. It's not. Instead it's buried in the very small print of T&C's enclosed with the product.

My friends have discovered by chance several lots of credit which were removed from their phones by Tesco in most cases without any notice, text message or otherwise.

And by the wayall credit (including top-ups) can be deleted by Tesco. Their own staff are confused as to when paid credit is removed but confirm that they do in fact remove it.

Sorry for your trouble Peter. This has not happened to me, I'd say if this was widespread there would be a lot of bad reports about Tesco Mobile. As far as I know there's not. You and your friends you should complain to Comreg and ask for a refund. On a point of information, their policy of free credit expiring is not unique, free credit also expires after 30 days with 3 Ireland.

Shame it's pink. Also the conditions on the €125 credit - ie you have to topup by €20 per month to get much of that in €8.50 installments which you then need to use per month and the other conditions too.

Sorry for your trouble Peter. This has not happened to me, I'd say if this was widespread there would be a lot of bad reports about Tesco Mobile. As far as I know there's not. On a point of information, their policy of free credit expiring is not unique, free credit also expires after 30 days with 3 Ireland.

Yeah but I think most people don't even realise they've been done out of credit... they just assume they've used it up themselves.